Latest news with #BabyBoomers
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Woman, 63, hasn't worked in years and has now burned through her savings — here's The Ramsey Show's advice
Cherie, a 63-year-old San Bernardino, California resident, has been surviving on dwindling savings since 2007. And she's down to her last few thousand. Concerned, she called into The Ramsey Show for some advice. With multiple disabilities that prevent consistent work, she lives in a fully paid-off home held in a trust. She carries zero debt and spends roughly $1,000 a month on essentials, living diligently within her budget, paying only utilities, insurance and food (supplemented by food stamps). 'I've burned through nearly all my savings and I'm down to $4,000,' she confessed on her recent call to The Ramsey Show. She cannot claim Social Security retirement benefits until age 67 and repeated disability-benefit denials have left her without another reliable income source. I'm 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don't panic. Here are 6 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast) Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now become a landlord for as little as $100 — and no, you don't have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here's how Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan 'works every single time' to kill debt, get rich in America — and that 'anyone' can do it Cherie asked if she should borrow against or sell her trust-held home to gain more money. 'Don't borrow against it because that's now putting the one thing that you have that's safe and secure at risk because income is an issue for you, so you don't want to do anything that will add debt to your life,' cohost Jade Warshaw advised. Instead, they urged her to generate modest but essential income through part-time remote work. 'You sound great on the phone,' said cohost Ken Coleman. The hosts recommended customer service roles that require only a headset and about four hours of work per day. Warshaw mentioned her own experience working flexible hours on platforms such as which allow workers to choose short shifts without competition. This is ideal for someone who hasn't held a traditional job in years but needs flexibility due to health challenges. They also advised Cherie to apply immediately for Supplemental Security Income (SSI), which averages about $718 monthly for all recipients (that number is slightly higher for someone aged 63, averaging $764). This will allow her to cover roughly two-thirds of her current expenses while bolstering her application for Social Security at age 67. Read more: You don't have to be a millionaire to gain access to . In fact, you can get started with as little as $10 — here's how Cherie's predicament isn't unique. Nearly half of Baby Boomers (49%) are working past age 70 and do not plan to retire. Their situation is driven as much by financial necessity (82%) as by a desire to stay active (78%). Pew Research data backs this up, and notes it as a growing trend for those aged 65 and older. While, in 1987, only 11% of Americans in this age group were working, in 2023 that number was up to 19%. Part of the reason is that many Americans do not have sufficient savings to retire (the latest number puts these at $1.26 million). By contrast, the Federal Reserve found the median retirement savings among Americans ages 65 to 74 is just $200,000 as of 2022, the last year for which data is available. While the average retiree's Social Security benefit hit a record $2,002 per month in May 2025, many cannot afford to wait or don't qualify due to limited work history. For seniors like Cherie, experts recommend treating job seeking as a strategic project: Apply for SSI and appeal disability denials: Even partial SSI support about $700/month) can ease immediate cash flow. Launch remote job searches tonight: Sites such as and list customer service, data-entry and tutoring roles that require minimal qualification and offer flexible hours. Track and adapt: Keep a simple spreadsheet of applications, follow up weekly and tweak your pitch to emphasize reliability and interpersonal skills over technical credentials. Plan for Social Security at 67: You can delay full retirement age and raise benefits by up to 8 percent annually, which can make a long-term difference in your retirement situation. Cherie owns her home outright and has no debt. 'You got to happen to this problem,' says Coleman. Her next step, he says, is to increase her income until she qualifies for more retirement benefits. ' Sum it all together and say, 'I'm not going to be a victim here. I'm going to take control.' And you can, but you have to go after it,' Coleman said. With that pragmatic plan, Cherie may transform her precarious situation into a sustainable next chapter. This tiny hot Costco item has skyrocketed 74% in price in under 2 years — but now the retail giant is restricting purchases. Here's how to buy the coveted asset in bulk Robert Kiyosaki warns of a 'Greater Depression' coming to the US — with millions of Americans going poor. But he says these 2 'easy-money' assets will bring in 'great wealth'. How to get in now Rich, young Americans are ditching the stormy stock market — here are the alternative assets they're banking on instead Here are 5 'must have' items that Americans (almost) always overpay for — and very quickly regret. How many are hurting you? Stay in the know. Join 200,000+ readers and get the best of Moneywise sent straight to your inbox every week for free. This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
Belfast Telegraph
7 hours ago
- Business
- Belfast Telegraph
Five ways to holiday on a budget
ABTA's Travel Trends for 2025 report indicates that more than one in five (22%) Gen Z adults are planning to spend more on their holidays this year so they can upgrade their accommodation, compared with 14% of Millennials, 11% of Baby Boomers and 8% of Gen X.
The Star
17 hours ago
- General
- The Star
Trending terms in bad romance
AFTER countless swipes on the dating app, Ryan (not his real name) thought he had found his soulmate. A woman named Lisa with whom he had been texting regularly, seemed the perfect fit. Initially, her texts were thoughtful and kind, conveying warmth, making 24-year-old Ryan feel wanted and needed. But it did not last. Gradually, her messages became shorter and more infrequent. Soon, Ryan found himself wondering what went wrong. The heartbroken and dejected Ryan is not the only person in the world of dating to have gone through this experience. He had just been lovebombed. Around the world, such slang terms connected to dating, coined by either Gen X, Gen Y (Millennials) or Gen Z are being popularised through social media platforms, dating apps, and online forums such as Reddit, TikTok and Twitter (now X). These terms have even caught on with online medical forums and dictionaries, and are being employed by professionals in understanding the language of love used by both young and old when relationships go sour. These terms are not limited to just the generations mentioned above, as even Baby Boomers and the Silent Generation are known to use them too. StarMetro takes a look at some modern terms used to describe the landmines in the dating world. Lovebombing is when a person shows intense affection in early stages of a relationship, followed by sudden or gradual emotional withdrawal. Lovebombing What Ryan experienced is known as lovebombing. This is usually characterised by intense affection by the pursuing partner in a relationship's early stages, followed by sudden or gradual emotional withdrawal. A 2017 study titled 'Love-bombing: A Narcissistic Approach to Relationship Formation' carried out by multiple universities in the US, defined lovebombing as excessive communication and overwhelming attention at the start of a romantic relationship, used to gain power and control over the other person. The term can be traced back to a controversial religious sect in the 1970s who used manipulative strategy to control its members. As Ryan began to feel valued, an emotional bond was formed between him and Lisa. However, this initial emotional high state also left him vulnerable to manipulation, leading to eventual heartbreak. Gaslighting is when someone makes you doubt your own feelings or reality in order to gain control or avoid blame. Gaslighting To gain clarity on where he stood, Ryan confronted Lisa about their relationship status, reminding her of her sweet promises. Much to his chagrin, Lisa denied ever making such promises, despite being presented with screenshots of their conversations. This is a form of gaslighting. Oxford Dictionary defines gaslighting as psychological manipulation in which a person seeks to sow seeds of doubt in a targeted individual, making one question his or her own memory, perception or sanity. The term came from a British play Gaslight in the 1930s, and subsequent film where a husband manipulates his wife to make her doubt her own sanity. A 2024 study 'A Qualitative Analysis of Gaslighting in Romantic Relationships', published in Personal Relationships journal, described gaslighting as a psychological abuse that may affect both men and women. It did, however, note that a significant percentage of perpetrators are men. Ghosting Ghosting occurs when one party suddenly stops all communication without prior warning, leaving the other confused and hurt. According to Cambridge Dictionary, ghosting is ending a relationship by suddenly stopping communication with someone. A 2023 survey by a US-based therapy and counselling service Thriving Center of Psychology found that 84% of people reported having experienced ghosting. Another study 'What is (not) ghosting?' published in 2025 in Computers in Human Behavior Reports journal said ghosting often leads to emotional distress, confusion and damage to self-esteem. Jennice Vilhaue of the American Psychological Association's Speaking of Psychology podcast said, 'Ghosting is a heartbreaking fact in the modern dating world. 'It's when a friend or someone you've been dating disappears from contact with no explanation. Ghosting can shatter self-esteem and hurt just as much as physical pain.' If not addressed, victims may also develop trust issues in future relationships. Future faking is when a person makes promises that he or she never intends to fulfil. This is done to gain someone's trust. Future faking Sarah has always dreamed of marrying and starting a family. The 25-year-old met Mike, whom she thought shared her goals and values. In addition to talking about marriage and children, Mike also made promises about going on holidays together. After dating for sometime, none of their plans ever materialised and Sarah soon found herself heartbroken when Mike left. Sarah is a victim of future- faking. Future faking occurs when a person makes promises he or she never intends to fulfil, to gain someone's trust. It is designed to create a false sense of security and emotional attachment, thus keeping the partner emotionally invested. An article in Psychology Today published on July 2 last year described future faking as 'lovebombing on steroids'. Breadcrumbing involves giving minimal attention to keep someone interested without any intention of taking the relationship to the next level. Breadcrumbing After the break-up, Sarah thought her ordeal with Mike was over but she was mistaken. In months that followed, she began getting messages from her ex, though none of them indicated that he was ready to commit and work through their issues. The inconsistent and irregular messages kept her emotionally hooked and unable to move on. This is referred to as breadcrumbing. The term is said to have originated from the Hansel and Gretel fairy tale where the children left breadcrumbs on their trail. A 2023 study 'Attachment Insecurity and Breadcrumbing Engagement in Young Adults' conducted by researchers in India and Spain said breadcrumbing involves giving minimal, sporadic attention, such as vague messages or social media interactions, to keep someone interested without any intention for the relationship to progress. The messages that Sarah received were 'crumbs of affections' keeping her invested in Mike but causing her confusion and trapped in a toxic situation. Pocketing is keeping a romantic partner hidden from family and friends, showing hesitation to fully commit to a relationship. Pocketing Sarah resumed her relationship with Mike. In weeks that followed, she began noticing that he was avoiding her. He refused to introduce Sarah to his family and wider social circle, leaving Sarah feeling socially isolated. This is a sign of pocketing, a new term that gained popularity among Millennials and Gen Z on social media. It is often taken to mean the act of keeping a romantic partner hidden from family and friends, indicating reluctance to commit fully. Cultural pressures and family expectations to maintain a certain image may lead one to resort to pocketing. Pocketing leaves a heavy toll on victims, sparking insecurity and trust issues. Slow fading Emma, 27, has been seeing her boyfriend Ben for two years when she noticed the communication between them dwindling. Soon, plans got cancelled at the last minute and Ben started making excuses, before cutting her off completely from his life. Almost similar to ghosting, slow fading takes place more gradually as a partner decreases contact in phases, leaving the other person in a state of ambiguity. Slow fading usually leaves a person without closure, making it difficult for the victim to make sense of what had transpired. As for Emma, she did not realise the relationship had ended until weeks later, leaving her hurt and traumatised. Orbiting Months passed and Emma started feeling stronger after signing up for therapy and counselling. But soon, her ex's name began appearing in her notifications – as Ben was following her stories and status updates on social media, even liking her posts and pictures. Yet, he never made direct contact with Emma, leaving her confused about his intention. This behaviour is called orbiting, in which a person makes minimal effort to remain on someone's radar. Orbiting is the new dating terminology said to have been coined by an online blog site. A 2022 study in Journal of Social and Personal Relationships said orbiting was a sign of emotional ambivalence where a person has difficulty in detaching yet not wanting to commit fully. In an article on University of Milano-Bicocca's Milan Social Psychology associate professor Dr Luca Pancani said that in orbiting, the disengager (in this case Ben) will follow the victim (Emma) on social networking sites after the breakup. The article said, 'With the advent of the digital era, these practices have become increasingly common thus gaining the attention of researchers'. Paper clipping Weeks went by before Emma heard from Ben again. 'Hey, what's up?' read his message. Though short and casual, it was enough to bring up memories Emma wanted to leave behind. In the next few months, Ben continued sending similar messages sporadically, though he fell short of stating his intentions. According to reports, paper clipping is when someone you have lost contact with resurfaces sporadically with minimal engagement, just enough to keep you as an option but without an intention to commit. Paper clipping comes from Clippy, the early 2000 Microsoft animated paperclip figure that pops up on and off, offering tips and suggestions. Benching After six months of going on dates with Adam, Nadia had hoped he would finally define their relationship. But her hopes were dashed when she found out that Adam was seeing other women too. Adam had been benching her – a term used when someone keeps another as a backup option. By keeping connections casual and non-exclusive, a bencher gets to enjoy freedom without being tied down by commitment. A 2023 article in The International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health highlighted that the rise in online dating has promoted benching behaviours, largely thanks to illusions of endless options on dating apps. Benching creates uncertainty and leaves the recipient feeling undervalued. *All names of interviewees have been changed to protect their identities.
Forbes
a day ago
- Politics
- Forbes
A Great Nation Or What? Poll Responses Over Time
In 1955, the Gallup Organization asked Americans to suppose they were talking in a general way about the United States and other countries. The organization then asked which of three statements came closer to the respondent's point of view. Two-thirds chose the response that the United States was the 'greatest country in the world, better than all other countries in every possible way.' Thirty-one percent believed the US was 'a great country but so are certain other countries.' And finally, 1% said that in many other respects, certain other countries were better than the US. A version of this question has been asked occasionally by pollsters ever since. A 1998 survey of parents done for Public Agenda found 84% believed the United States was 'a unique country that stands for something special in the world,' while 13% said the US is 'just another country whose system is no better or worse than other countries.' In 2011, the Pew Research Center began asking another version. That year, 38% responded that 'the U.S. stands above all other countries in the world,' while 53% said the U.S. was 'one of the greatest countries in the world, along with some others.' Eight percent said there were other countries that were better than the U.S. The 38% response has been trending downward unevenly, and in 2024, using a different methodology, 20% said the US stands above, while 55% said there were other countries that were also great. Twenty-four percent said there were other countries that were better, three times as many as had given that response in 2011. The Chicago Council for Global Affairs presents a binary choice: 'Some people say the United States has a unique character that makes it the greatest country in the world. Others say that every country is unique, and the United States is no greater than other nations.' In 2012, 70% chose greatest country response, while 29% opted for the 'no greater than other nations.' In 2023, the last time they asked the question, there was a big change in the no greater response: almost as many, 47%, chose it while 52% chose the greatest country. The Chicago Council looked at the responses by generations and found that majorities of the oldest generation, the Baby Boomers, and Gen X-ers all opted for the greatest response. Millennials, born in 1981 and beginning to come of age in the mid-1990s, were different. Just 40% of Millennials chose this response, and 59% opted for the no greater one. Other pollsters show the same generational differences with Millennials and younger generations more skeptical than their elders about the US's role. The Council noted that racial and ethnic differences to the question were small. In 2009 Barack Obama gave an interview in which he was asked whether he subscribed to the view of many of his predecessors that America was uniquely qualified to lead the world, that it was exceptional. He responded that he believed in American exceptionalism 'just as I suspect the Brits believe in British exceptionalism and the Greeks believe in Greek exceptionalism . . .' He went on to extol America's great accomplishments and strong ideals, concluding that because we have a lot to offer that we should still recognize the values and ideals of other countries. Obama's views are one of many factors that may have influenced members of younger generations. Their own coming of age experiences also have played a role. Exceptionalism did not mean America was better; it meant that we were different, with a different history, some facets of which are unique. One of those unique characteristics is optimism. Even in these deeply polarized times, most Americans still believe America's best days are ahead. Like the exceptionalism question, pollsters ask about optimism in different ways, and in most of them, including a new poll from Quinnipiac released last week, optimism beats pessimism. In the new poll, 53% said America's best days were ahead, and 40% behind. Differences about presidents, policies, and priorities are real, but most Americans still believe the US is a force for good, a great country with problems and potential.
Time Magazine
2 days ago
- Business
- Time Magazine
TIME100 Most Influential Companies 2025: Gap
Gap has provided a valuable lesson in making old (ish) brands vibrant again under CEO Richard Dickson, who joined in 2023 from Mattel (where he helped revive Barbie) and creative director Zac Posen, who arrived in 2024. The company's brands—including Gap, Banana Republic and Old Navy—were flagging for years but have regained buzz and market share, and in March, it reported 2024 operating profits of $1.1 billion, nearly double the previous year. (Though Trump's tariffs may mean trouble ahead, with volatility and significant impact on retailers and global supply chains.) The secret? Named in 1969 to reference the "generation gap," it's now a bridge to multiple generations of consumers, even in the same store, aided by successful influencer collaborations that connect to younger shoppers. "With precision marketing, we can target our Gen Z, Baby Boomers, Gen X and millennials with creativity and assets that appeal to those different generations with the same product, expressed differently," Dickson says. "Our clothes are designed so that you express your own individuality. Khakis are khakis, right? But how you wear the khaki is your individual style."
